Enclosure cover handle mechanism with two latches



Sept 9, 1958 H EDMUNDS I ENCLOSURE COVER HANDLE MECHANISM WITH TWO LATCHES Filed May 28, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept 1958 w H. EDMUNDS 2,5154

ENCLOSURE COVER HANDLE MECHANISM WITH TWO LATCHES Filed May 2a, 1955 4 Shets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. W/ZZ /4/V 4/?01 0 [0171/4 05 Sept Q, 3958 w. H. EDMUNDS 278539543 ENCLOSURE COVERHANDLE MECHANISM WITH TWO LATCHES Filed May 28. 1956 4 Sheets- Sheet 3 J JGQE &, 9, W5 W. H. EDMUNS 2,5E

ENCLOSURE COVER HANDLE MECHANISM WITH TWO LATCHES Filed May 28, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent ENCLOSURE COVER HANDLE MECHANISM WITH TWO LATCHES 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-50) My invention relates to an operating means for a circuit breaker handle where the circuit breaker is mounted within a housing of the type described in copending U. S. application Serial No. 421,753, filed April 8, 1954, Giessner and Bodenschatz, Closing Mechanism for Molded Case Circuit Breakers, assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

In the past, operating means of the type to which my invention is directed required that the enclosure cover of the'circuit breaker be latched closed in all positions including the elf-position of an operating handle. In order to unlatch the enclosure cover latch in this case, it Was necessary that a distinct operating handle position or an open cover position be attained. A defeater means to defeat the cover latch was then provided to be operable in all positions but the off-position whereby the enclosure cover may be opened for all other positions of the circuit breaker handle by operating the defeater means.

However, it is only necessary that the cover be latched in the off-position when an operator is working on. the line or under other similar conditions.

My novel invention provides a first and secondlatch means, each operable through the operating handle whereby the first latch may be operable to latch the enclosure cover when the operating handle is in the on.- position, and to unlatch the enclosure cover when the operating handle is in the off-position.

The second latch, which may be operated independently of the first latch by means of a trigger mechanism on the operating handle, may then be utilized to latch the enclosure cover closed and latch the operating handle in the oil-position when the circuit breaker is in the oflf-position and the operator deems this to be desirable.

If desired, a defeater mechanism may be included to be operable to defeat the first latch means when the circuit breaker is in a position other than the off-position. Hence, the instant invention provides an arrangement whereby a second latch is brought into place only when needed rather than having the cover latched in all positions of the cover handle or operating handle. Furthermore, it should be noted that with the instant invention, that it is no longer necessary to move the handle to a separate open cover position to open the cover.

Accordingly, a primary object of my invention is to provide an operating mechanism for an enclosed circuit breaker.

Another important object of my invention is to provide an operating mechanism for an enclosed circuit breaker which provides a first and second latch means wherein the first latchis operative to latch the enclosure cover when the circuit breaker is in the on-position and the second latch is operative to latch the enclosure cover when the circuit breaker is in the elf-position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an operating mechanism for an enclosed circuit breaker wherein the entire mechanism; is carried on the door of the circuit breaker enclosure with the exception ofa stationaiy latch element secured within the enclosure.

A 2,851,548 Patented Sept. 9,, 1958 A further object of my invention is to provide an. operating mechanism for an enclosed circuit breaker wherein a first. latch is effective to latch an enclosure cover closed when the circuit breaker is, in an on-position and to unlatch the enclosure cover when the circuit breaker is in the Off-position.

A still further object of my, invention is to provide an operating mechanism for an enclosed circuit, breaker. wherein an independent latch means is provided to latch the enclosure cover closed and the operating handle in the oil-position when the operating handle is in the 01fposition.

These and many other objects of my invention will become apparent when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of my novel latching mechanism.

Figure la shows a member which could be positioned so as to provide a locking of the position of the operating handle upon operation of a trigger means in the operating handle.

Figure 2 shows a top-view of an enclosed circuit breaker of the type to which my novel invention may be. applied;

Figure 3 shows a view of Figure 2 taken along the lines 3-3.

Figure 4 shows a view of Figure 2 when taken across the line 4--4.

Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of Figure 2 taken through the operating handle.

Figure 6 shows'a fragmentary view of the operating plate which operates a first latch.

Figure 7 shows my novel latching mechanism when the circuit breaker is inthe off-position.

Figure 8 shows my novel operating mechanism when the circuit breaker is in an on-position.

Figure 9a shows a perspective View of my novel latching mechanism when the circuit breaker is in an on-position.

Figure 9b shows a perspective view of my novel latching mechanism when the circuit breaker is in an off-position.

Figure 10 shows a. fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 5 and specifically illustrating the positioning of the various components of the latch mechanism.

Figure 11 is similar to Figure 10 and shows the second latch in its latched position.

Figure 12 is a View taken across the lines 12I2 of Figure 10 and specifically illustrates the operation of the second latch of my invention.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 specifically illustrate a circuit breaker unit 20 enclosed within a housing or box 21, having a door or lid 22 hinged thereto at the top in the usual manner. The usual gasket 23 may be provided, the box being suitably fastened to a wall at mounting bosses 24. The mechanism of my novel invention which may be further seen in conjunction with Figure 1 as well as with Figures 2, 3 and 4 is as follows:

A composition operating handle 25 is attached to a shaft 26 which may be an integral part of the molding of handle 25. The shaft 26 proceeds through a bore 27 of plate 28, bore 29 of the enclosure door 22, and a rectangular projection of shaft 26 then extends through the opening 30 of the operating plate 31 and is finally secured by means of member 32, lock washer 33 and fastening means 34 which is fastened into the end of shaft 26.

A circuit breaker handle engaging plate 35 is carried by operating plate 31 and is biased by springs 36 and 37 carried on screws 38 and 39 in the manner described in the aforementioned copending application Serial No. 421,753. The aperture 40 of plate 35 is so disposed as to receive the operating handle of the circuit breaker as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, this plate being spring biased by the springs 37 and 36 so as to allow deflection of plate 35 in the event that the circuit breaker cover is closed and the aperture 40 is not aligned with the circuit breaker handle.

Hence, in view of the spring biased arrangement, the plate 35 will tilt away from the circuit breaker handle and breakage will not occur.

A stationary latch member 41 is mounted within the circu t breaker enclosure in any desired manner and is pos tioned to cooperate with a first latch means 42 which 1s pivotally mounted at pivot point 43 and a second latch means 44 which is pivotally mounted at pivot 45. It is understood thatvthe pivots 43 and 45 are in, some way secured by the housing door 22.

As will be shown hereinafter, upon rotation of the enclosure door handle 25 to the off-position, projection 46 of operating plate 31 will engage the first latch means 42 to thereby place it in a disengaged position with respect to the stationary latch 41. An operating means for the second latch member 44 consists of member 47 which is pivotally mounted from the enclosure door 22 at pivot point 48 and engages the second latch 44 at protrusion 49. Protrusion 50 of member 47 as may be seen more clearly in Figure 4 protrudes through the enclosure door 22 and plate 28 to be engageable by a trigger operating means 51 of handle 25 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

In order to defeat the first latch 42 when the circuit breaker handle 25 is in the on-position, a button 52 which projects through opening 53 of operating handle 25 extends through bore 54 of plate 28 and bore 55 of the enclosure door 22 to be positioned immediately above extension 56 (Figure 3) of the first latch 42. Clearly, by depressing the button 52 which serves as a defeating means for the first latch 42, the first latch 42 will be rotated about its pivot 43 to disengage the stationary latch member 41.

The trigger means 51 may be more fully understood with reference to Figure 9. It is seen here that trigger means 51 has a protrusion 57 and extends throughout the length of the operating handle to an extension 58. In the rearward portion of member 51, there is an opening which cooperates with opening 59 when extension 58 is depressed to drive protrusion 57 into engagement with protrusion 50 of member 47. In this position, it is seen that the second latch member 44 is-operated to-latch the stationary latch member 41 to thereby latch the enclosure cover closed and could further be utilized to latch the enclosure cover handle in a fixed position by causing protrusion 57 to further cooperate with -a notched means in the enclosure door and to thereafter pass a padlock through the opening 59 to secure the trigger means in this position.

That is to say, after operating the trigger member 51 when the circuit breaker is in the cit-position, an operator may then padlock the trigger to assure that the enclosure cover will be locked and that the operating handle will be locked in the off position.

The operation of the first latch member may be understood with reference to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9a. Assuming that the enclosure cover handle 25 of Figure 7 is in the off-position and is then moved to an on-position of Figure 8, it is specifically shown in Figure 6 that protrusion 46 of operating plate 31 will be moved in such a manner as to allow a spring biasing means 60 to move the latch member 42 to an engaged position with respect to latch 41. That is to say, as the operating plate 31 is moved from the dotted position of Figure 6 to the solid position of Figure 6 the latch 42 of Figure 7 will move from the position shown therein to the solid position shown in Figure 8.

When the circuit breaker is in the on-position of Figure 8 and it is desired to open the enclosure cover for some reason, the latch 42 may be defeated by the defeatr 4 ing means 52 as shown in the drawing. That is to say, by depressing the button 52, the latch 42 will be rotated counterclockwise around the pivot 43 to disengage the stationary latch means 41.

It is to be noted that while the prior art latching mechanisms provided a latch which was so constructed as to maintain the enclosure cover door latched closed, that in the instant invention, when the circuit breaker is in the oif-position of Figure 7, the enclosure cover door is unlatched. If, however, it is desired that the enclosure cover door be latched while the circuit breaker is in the off-position of Figure 7, a second latch means 44 is provided, the operation of which may be understood with reference to Figures 9b, 10, 11 and 12.

In order to operate the second latch member 44, it is necessary to operate the trigger means 51 to thereby cause a rotation of member 47 about its pivot point 48 as seen ,in Figure 9b.

Figure 10 shows the relative position of protrusion 57 of the trigger member 51 prior to its engagement with protrusion 50 of member 47. When in this position, latch 44 will be in the solid position of Figure 12 and the door cover will be unlatched. When, however, trigger 51 is pushed forward as is shown in the case of Figures ll and 9b, member 47 will be rotated about its pivot 48 and protrusion 45 of latch member 44 will be driven downward to thereby drive latch 44 into the dotted position of Figure 12 or the solid, position of Figure 9b.

Hence, when the circuit breaker is in the cit-position and the operator deems it necessary to latch the enclosure cover door closed, he may padlock the trigger 51 at the operating handle or aperture 59 of Figure l to thereby ensure that the second latch 44 will be maintained in the position shown in Figures 9b and 11.

' In the event that it is desired to lock the operating handle in position as well as the operating cover when the operating handle is in the ofi-position by means of the trigger 51, a member such as member 61 of Figure la may be provided. Member 61 would, in the case of Figure 1, be positioned between the plate 28 and the operating handle 25, this member 61 being provided with bores 62 and 63 for receiving shaft 26 and pin 52 respectively. It is seen that member 61 is provided with notches 65 and 64 which are so adapted as to receive the protrusion 57 of the trigger means 51 when this trigger means is moved into a locking position.

By way of example, if protrusion 57 is moved into notch 64 when the circuit breaker operating handle is to be latched by the latch 42, it would then be impossible to rotate the operating handle 25 in view of the engagement of protrusion 57 and notch 64 as well as being impossible to open the enclosure cover in view of the engagement of latch 42 and latch 41.

- In a similar manner, when the circuit breaker is in the 011 position, the operating handle 25 may be locked by means of a padlock through aperture 59 by moving the trigger member 51 so that the protrusion 57 will move into the notch 65. In this case, it is seen that the second latch member 44 will move to its latched position and hence both the enclosure cover will be securely locked since the defeating means 52 can only defeat the first latch '42, and the operating handle 25 similarly will be locked in this ofi-position.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will now be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications may be made. I prefer therefore to be limited, not by the specific description herein, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An operating mechanism for operating the handle of a circuit breaker mounted within an enclosure; said enclosure having a cover adapted to complete said enclosure; an external operating handle mounted externally of said completed enclosure; said external operating handle being operatively connected to said circuit breaker handle to move said circuit breaker handle between an on and oil position; a first latch means and a second latch means; said first and second latch means being constructed to latch and unlatch said enclosure cover to said enclosure; said first latch member being operatively connected to said external operating handle to latch said enclosure cover to said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said on position and to unlatch said enclosure cover from said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said ofi position; said second latch means being normally biased to unlatch said enclosure cover from said enclosure and operable, by a means closely associated with said external operating handle, independently of said first latch means to latch said enclosure cover to said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said ofi position; a push-button defeating means closely associated with said external operating handle; said push-button defeating means being constructed to be operable externally of said completed enclosure to' defeat said first latch means when said external operating handle is in said on position.

2. An operating mechanism for operating the handle of a circuit breaker mounted within an enclosure; said enclosure having a cover adapted to .complete said enclosure; an external operating handle mounted externally of said completed enclosure; said external operating handle being operatively connected to said circuit breaker handle to move said circuit breaker handle between an on and off position; a first latch means and a second latch means; said first and second latch means being constructed to latch and unlatch said enclosure cover to said enclosure; said first latch member being operatively connected to said external operating handle to latch said enclosure cover to said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said on position and to unlatch said enclosure cover from said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said off position; said second latch means being normally biased to unlatch said enclosure cover from said enclosure and operable, by a means closely associated with said external operating handle, independently of said first latch means to latch said enclosure cover to said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said off position; said second latch means being further constructed to be locked in said latch position when said external operating handle is in said off position.

An operating mechanism for operating the handle of a circuit breaker mounted Within an enclosure; said enclosure having a cover adapted to complete said enclosure; an external operating handle mounted externally of said completed enclosure; said external operating handle being operatively connected to said circuit breakerhandle to move said circuit breaker handle between an on and oil position; a first latch means and a second latch means; said first and second latch means being constructed to latch and unlatch said enclosure cover to said enclosure; said first latch member being operatively connected to said external operating handle to latch said enclosure cover to said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said on position and to unlatch said enclosure cover from said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said oil position; said second latch means being normally biased to unlatch said enclosure cover from said enclosure and operable, by a means closely associated with said external operating handle, independently of said first latch means to latch said enclosure cover to said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said off position; a push-button defeating means closely associated with said external operating handle; said push-botton defeating means being constructed to be operable externally of said completed enclosure to defeat said first latch means when said external operating handle is in said on position; a locking means; said locking means being constructed to lock said second latch means in said latch position when said external operat- 3 inghandle is in said off position and simultaneously to lock said external operating handle in said off position.

4. An operating mechanism for operating the handle of a circuit breaker mounted within an enclosure; said enclosure having a cover adapted to complete said enclosure; an operating handle mounted externally of said enclosure cover; a stationary latch member mounted within said enclosure and a first and second latch means operatively connected to said cover; said external operating handle being operatively connected to said circuit breaker handle to move said circuit breaker handle between an on and ofi position; said first latch member being operatively connected to said external operating handle to be in latching engagement with said stationary latch member when said external operating handle is in said on-position and to be in an unlatched position with respect to said stationary latch when said external operating handle is in said off-position; said second latch being normally biased out of latch engagement with said stationary latch member, and movable, by a means closely associated with said external operating handle, independently of said first latch to move into latch engagement with said stationary latch member when said external operating handle is in said oil-position.

5. An operating mechanism for operating the handle of a circuit breaker mounted within an enclosure; said enclosure having a cover adapted to complete said enclosure; an operating handle mounted externally of said enclosure cover; a stationary latch member mounted within said enclosure and a first and second latch means positively connected to said cover; said external operating handle being operatively connected to said circuit breaker handle to move said circuit breaker handle between an on and oil position; said first latch member being operatively connected to said external operating handle to be in latching engagement with said stationary latch member when said external operating handle is in said on-position and to be in an unlatched position with respect to said stationary latch when said external operating handle is in said oil-position; said second latch being normally biased out of latch engagement with said stationary latch member, and movable, by a means closely associated with said external operating handle, independently of said first latch to move into latch engagement with said stationary latch member when said external operating handle is in said olf position; and a push-button defeating means closely associated with said external operating handle; said push-button defeating means being constructed to defeat said first latch when said external operating handle is in said onposition.

6. An operating mechanism for operating the handle of a circuit breaker mounted within an enclosure; said enclosure having a cover adapted to complete said enclosure; an operating handle mounted externally of said enclosure cover; a stationary latch mamber mounted within said enclosure and a first and second latch means operatively connected to said cover; said external operating handle being operatively connected to said circuit breaker handle to move said circuit breaker handle be tween an on and off position; said first latch member being operatively connected to said external operating handle to be in latching engagement with said stationary latch member when said external operating handle is in said oil-position and to be in an unlatched position with respect to said stationary latch when said external operating handle is in said off-position; and means to move said second latch when said external operating handle is in said olf position; said second latch being normally biased out of latching engagement with said stationary latch member; said means to move said second latch being constructed to move said second latch into latching engagement with said stationary latch member and simultaneously to prevent said external operating handle from being moved out of said off-position.

7. An operating mechanism for operating the handle of a circuit breaker mounted within an enclosure; said enclosure having a cover adapted to complete said enclosure; an operating handle mounted externally of said enclosure cover; a stationary latch member mounted Within said enclosure and a first and second latch means operatively connected to said cover; said external operating handle being operatively connected to said circuit breaker handle to move said circuit breaker handle between an on and off position; said first latch member being operatively connected to said external operating handleto be in latching engagement With said stationary latch member when said external operating handle is in said on-position and to be in an unlatched position with respect to said stationary latch when said external operating handle is in said ofi-position; said second latch being normally biased out of latch engagement with said stationary latch member, and movable, by a means closely associated with said external operating handle, independently of said first latch to move into latch engagement with said stationary latch member when said external operating handle is in said oft-position; and means to lock said second latch in said latch position with respect to said stationary latch and simultaneously to lock said operating handle in said off-position.

8. An operatingmechanism for operating a circuit breaker mounted within an enclosure; said enclosure having a cover adapted to complete said enclosure; an external operating handle mounted externally of said completed enclosure; said externaloperating handle being operatively connected to said circuit breaker to move said circuit breaker between an on and off position; a first latch means and a second latch means; said first and second latch means being constructed to latch and unlatch said enclosure cover to said enclosure; said first latch member being operatively connected tosaid external operating handle to latch said enclosure cover to said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said onposition and to unlatch said enclosure cover from said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said ofi-position; said second latch means being normally biased to unlatch said enclosure cover from said enclosure and operable, by a means closely associated with said external operating handle, independently of said first latch means to latch said enclosure cover to said enclosure when said external operating handle is in said off position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ellis Feb. 27, 1940 Wills Nov. 30, 1,954 

